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"Liar," Alinor exclaimed, but smilingly, and seated herself on the bed beside him. |
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Ian took a bite of the meat and chewed reflectively. Alinor saw too much. He could not ignore what she said, nor could he come to the question he really wished to ask. "To call it a lie is too much," he said when he had swallowed, "but I did have another matter in my mind while my eyes took their pleasure. I wondered where you came by the idea that I had conspired with Sir Peter against your will." |
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Bright sparks of anger immediately lit Alinor's eyes. "Why should I not think you desired Gwenwynwyn to take the keep when you rode out, leaving his men on the walls and the gates wide open? And one of the wounded men you left behind said you rode out with Sir Peter. What should I think but that the whole thing was planned between you?" |
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That made Ian grin. Alinor obviously knew by now that he had not been in collusion with Sir Peter. It was leaving the keep unprotected that was enraging her. "You will have to take my word as a soldier that it was a better thing to do for the safety of alland of the keep also. Sometimes it is better to take a risk and act quickly than to try to hold everything tight. You are a greedy little devil," he added affectionately. |
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It was so innocent a remark, so obviously meant to tease lovingly, yet it struck straight on the one sore spot that remained in Alinor's heart. "Greedy, am I?" she snapped. "Perhaps I am. Yet I am not so greedy as to take your jewels to give to a lover as you took mine to give to your 'fair lady.'" |
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"What?" Ian said, pushing the food hastily out of the way. "When did I ever take a thing of yours? Even the jewels you pressed upon me when we married, I returned to your chests. I never" |
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"How easily you forgetor do you lie? I did not think you would lie, but upon so sacred a subject" Venom dripped in Alinor's voice, a venom made more |
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